Fitness and Finances #2: The Cost of Eating Out

Before we talk about eating out, let me ask you; can you afford an online coach?

Your life may depend on it. Dramatic? I'm not so sure.

First, go read the blog about medical expenses and I think you will understand why I feel that the appropriate question is; can you afford not to?

According to a Gallup study:

Thriving adults averaged an annual disease burden cost of $4,929 per person compared to $6,763 per person averaged by struggling and suffering adults. This represents a 37% cost difference, with struggling and suffering adults averaging $1,834 more in disease burden costs per person than their thriving counterparts.

Keep in mind that article is from 2010. Undoubtedly, the cost is even greater now. Poor health is costing you more than $150 a month!

Is it possible that eating out is contributing to your poor health? More than likely. Look at how our spending has changed over the past 60 plus years.

As we have ate more meals away from home, we have seen a corresponding rise in chronic diseases, diabetes, obesity, etc. I could provide more graphs but I will trust you to do your own research. It is striking to see the upward trend in sugar consumption and obesity in particular as our focus has shifted towards eating out versus home cooked meals.

I know there is someone out there saying "But correlation does not equal causation." If you are that person, keep eating out at a high frequency. It's your health and your money.

Obviously, eating out occasionally can be fun and can, with some planning, be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. For example, on this website, I have a list of healthy fast food options for when you are on the go and time is short!

How much money are we spending exactly?

While the chart above may not describe you perfectly, but I bet it is close. That chart comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics so it is an average of how American’s spend their money. People are often not comfortable taking a close look at how they spend their money.

However, it is worth a close look. There are two great ways to see what someone values; one, see how they spend their time and two, see how they spend their money.

Let’s look at two items from the chart, first, $155 on sweets annually. Can you imagine the impact of giving up the sweets? In a previous blog I mentioned that a 1% improvement in health results in a savings annually of about $100. I would be willing to bet that eliminating all sweets from your diet, in addition to saving you directly on the money you would have spent on the sweets, will also improve your health by 1%. You could save $250 just be giving up chocolate and candy.

The second item I would like to draw your attention to is eating out. $3000 plus per year. Do the math. That is $250 per month. "No way" you say, "I don’t go out the fancy restaurants, I don’t spend that much." OK fine.

What about fast food? American’s spend $1200 a year on fast food.

I hope I have made my case. That is $100 per month on food that is not doing your insides any favors.

Per Month Costs

Poor Health: $150

Eating Out (all): $250

Eating Out (fast food): $100

Personal Training: Less than the total cost of poor eating!

You can afford a trainer. It will involve sacrifice.

Do you dare do less?

Be sure to check out other parts of this series!